Clothesline stretcher



Jan 3m 3951 V. H. HiLL ET AL 2539580 CLOTHESLINE STRETCHER Filed March l, 1949 2 Sheezs-Sheet l ATTE R N EYS Jan. 30, 1951 v. H. HILL ET AL CLOTHESLINE sTRETcHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l, 1949 m w m Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT oFFlcE CLOTHESLINE STRETCHER Violetta H. Hill and Roland R. Hill, Clifton, N. J.

Application March 1, 1949, Serial No. 78,914

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a clothesline stretcher.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for releasably connecting the ends of a flexible clothesline together.

Another object of the invention is to provide a manually-operable device for stretching a clothesline to give it the desired tension.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothesline stretcher which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the stretcher in initial position and applied to a clothesline to be stretched;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the stretcher in the position of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the stretcher in initial position and applied to a clothesline to be stretched;

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the stretcher showing the position of the parts after the stretching lever has been moved to its full extent;

Figure is a sectional View taken on theline 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the support member of the stretcher;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the stretching lever;

Figure 8 is a plan View of the support member;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the stretching lever.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numerals Ill and I I designate a pair of pulleys which are rotatably supported on a suitable support by braces I2 which are provided with a hook I3 on an end the'reoi. Trained over the pulleys i0 and II is a clothesline I4 and the present invention is directed to a stretching device for securing the clothesline I4 on the pulleys and maintaining the clothesline i4 stretched under tension.

The stretcher is fabricated of suitable material and comprises a support member I5 which is bent to provide a bottom wall I6 and a pair of spaced, parallel side walls I'I and I8. Secured to one end of the support member I5 is a ring 9 to which is attached an end of the clothesline I4. Projecting from the other end of the support member I5 is a pair of spaced, parallel ears I9 and extending between the ears I9 is a pin or roller 20 for a purpose to be later described. Arranged adjacent the ring I9 and positioned between the side walls I'I and I8 is a locking dog 2i having clothesline-engaging teeth 22 on its inner end, and the dog 2l is pivotally connected to the support member I5 by means of a pin 23.

The stretcher further includes a lever 24. Extending from one end of the level` 24 is a tubular handle 25 which is adapted to be gripped by the user to pivot the line. Formed integrally with the free end of the handle 25 is a hook 2t for engagement with a, portion of the clothesline when the line is stretched. The lever 24 is curved or channel shaped in cross section to define a 1ongitudinally-extending socket for receiving the support member I5 when the clothesline is not being stretched.

A body member 21 is interconnected to the lever 24 by means of a tapered portion 28 and the body member 2l comprises a pair of spaced, parallel side portions 29 and 30 which are positioned between the ears I9. The pin 20 pivotally connects the side portions 29 and 30 to the ears I9. Extending between the side portions 29 and 30 is a pin 3| provided with a roller 32 for a purpose to be later described.

In use, the rope clothesline I4 is trained over the pulleys Ill and II and one end of the line is connected to the ring 9. The other end of the rope line I4 is threaded through the stretcher as follows: First, the line is passed over pin 32, then under pin 2U and the line I4 is threaded under locking dog 2l, Figures 1, 2 and 3. After the line I4 is threaded in this manner, the line is stretched as tight as possible by hand and locked by the dog 2l. The lever 24 is then pivoted through an arc of to the position shown in Figure 4, and the hook 29 is moved into engagement with the line I4. This movement of the lever will further stretch the line so that it will be under a tension not previously7 obtainable. When the clothesline I4 is not being used, the lever 24 is pivoted back to the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, so that the line I4 will not be under continued unnecessary stress.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a clothesline stretcher, a support member,

a ring projecting from one end of said support member for engagement with one end of said clothesline, a locking dog arranged adjacent said ring and pivotally connected to said support member, a pair of spaced, parallel ears extending from the other end of said support member, a lever arranged contiguous to said support member, said lever yembodying an actuating handle projecting from one end thereof, a hook arranged on the projecting end 4o'f said handle and secured thereto, a body member on the other end of said lever and positioned between said ears and pivotally connected thereto, and a pin carried by said body member for engagementmth a portion of said clothesline. v

2. In a clothesline stretcher, a support member, a ring projecting from onezendfdf saidsupport member for engagement with one endbf said clothesline, a locking dog arranged "adjacent said ring and pivotally connected to said support member, "-a pair -Iofffears extending from (the other vend df-s'ad support member, Ya lever arranged -contiguous to said supportJ member, said lever'lembodying -an actuating vhandle pro'- jecting from one end thereof, a hook arranged on the projecting end of said handle and secured thereto, a body member on the other end of said lever and positioned between said ears and pivotally connected thereto, and means carried by said body member for engagement with a portion of said clothesline.

VIOLETTA H. HILL.

ROLAND R.. HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

`UITED STATES PATENTS Number 'Name Date J54.13925 Emery, Jr July 2, 1395 758,613.3 Epperson May 3, 1904 1,017,1747 Hall Feb. 13, 1912 1,176,188 Wolf Mar. 21, 1916 1,515,813 Richardson L- :'Nov. A18, 1924 322,289,725 O1ton July '14, V11942 22,335,000 :Edwards Nov. 23, 1943 2,478,994 White Aug. 16, 1949 

